Lubhalwe nguMichael Madyira
Umqeqeshi we-Orlando Pirates, uJose Riveiro uzibekele umgomo omkhulu wokuqondisa iPirates empumelelweni ye-CAF Champions League ngesizini ezayo.
Lezi zinkunzi zase-Soweto zingenele umqhudelwano wamakilabhu asezingeni eliphezulu e-Afrika ngemuva kokuqeda kwi-Premier Soccer League ka-2022/23 njengabalale isibili emuva kweMamelodi Sundowns.
Eminyakeni eyisikhombisa edlule, iSundowns neKaizer Chiefs bafinyelele kowamanqamu we-Champions League ngemisebenzi yakhe.
URiveiro usebheke umkhankaso oyingqophamlando nePirates eyagcina ukuklonyeliswa njengompetha base-Afrika ngo-1995.
“Leli iphupho lethu futhi sinamandla okuhamba yonke le ndlela,” kusho uRiveiro kwabezindaba.
“Ngingumuntu onethemba. Uma ngiqala umqhudelwano ngihamba ngenhloso yokuthi ngifuna impumelelo.
“IMamelodi Sundowns yenze umsebenzi oncomekayo kulo mqhudelwano futhi ikhombise ukuthi kungenzeka ukuthi amaqembu akuleli aqhudelane.
“Pho kungani? Kancane kancane sizophinde siqale phansi ngesizini ezayo kuyona yonke imiqhudelwano lapho sizobhekana khona nawo wonke umuntu ngenhloso yokuwina.”
Eminyakeni eyishumi edlule, iPirates yafinyelela kowamanqamu we-Champions League yahlulwa i-Al Ahly ngesikhathi ingaphansi kukaRoger de Sa.
Njengamanje kuzobe kungokokuqala uRiveiro eqeqesha iqembu kulo mqhudelwano futhi usezilungiselele ukubhekana nezinselelo ezihambisana nokuhambela amazwe ase-Afrika.
“Sizothola ukuyodlala namaqembu asezingeni, sibhekane nezimbangi ezinzima nezinqumo ezinzima ezivelakonompempe,” kusho lo mdlali wase-Spain.
IPirates yagcina ukubamba iqhaza ku-Champions League ngesizini ka-2018/19 kanti umkhankaso wayo waphela esigabeni samaqoqo.
Abasindile kule sizini esikwatini esikhona kubalwa uThembinkosi Lorch, uBen Motshwari, uVincent Pule, ukaputeni u-Innocent Maela, uPaseka Mako kanye noSandile Mthethwa owake waba ingxenye yomdlalo noSiyabonga Mpontshane ongunozinti.
Isithombe esingenhla: UJose Riveiro eqaphe abadlali bakhe beziqeqesha
Umthombo wesithombe: I-Orlando Pirates